Former Auckland lawyer hoping third time lucky in Tonga poll

A lawyer who unsuccessfully stood in the past two Tongan elections is confident he can make it in next month's poll.

The Tongan parliament buildings Photo: Tonga Parliament

Tongans are to vote for a new parliament on the 16th November after King Tupou VI suddenly dissolved parliament in August.

Nominations for the election closed last week with 86 candidates to contest the 17 democratically elected seats in the parliament.

The lawyer Sione Fonua, who previously split his time between Auckland and Nuku'alofa, said being based in Tonga for the last 18 months will help.

"I am here and I can actually mix with the people and talk to them and also ascertain what they want, and they know me better now, so yes the situation is much better now than what it was before."

Mr Fonua said this time he is part of a loose party federation called the Langafonua 'a e Masiva, which includes a number of well known current and former MPs, such as 'Aisake Eke, Sunia Fili and 'Isileli Pulu.